8 Can’t-Miss Disney Teacher Discounts and Ways to Save

Who doesn’t love a vacation to Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando? Here’s how teachers can get the best deals on all that Disney magic—including available Disney teacher discounts.

1. Take advantage of the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort teacher discount

The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts are two official Disney resort hotels with a year-round teacher discount. Be sure to share with your school support staff friends—they too are eligible for this discount! A stay at the Swan and the Dolphin Resorts includes transportation from your hotel to the parks. You can take a bus to any of the Walt Disney World theme parks and water parks. You can also hop on a boat to Disney’s Hollywood Studios or EPCOT.

Park ticket packages are also available with your Swan and Dolphin reservation, and your stay there makes you eligible for Disney FastPass+, the ability to reserve entry times at popular Walt Disney World experiences up to 60 days in advance of your trip. You will also have access to Extra Magic Hours, giving you extra time in one of the theme parks each day, either before it opens or after it closes. Extra Magic Hours are a superb way to beat long lines for popular rides and character meet and greets.

2. Camp at The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness resort

Did you know you can camp at Walt Disney World? And that The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort are considered a true Disney resort with the same perks as the Walt Disney World hotels? And that campsite rentals begin at just $55?

There are four types of campsites: tent or pop-up/camper sites, full hook-up sites (with enough room for an RV and plus a tent), preferred campsites for RVs equipped with sewer hookup and premium campsites for the large-style RVs. Each campsite is equipped with water, cable television and electrical hook-ups, privacy landscaping, a picnic table and a charcoal grill.

As the campground is an official Disney on-property resort, included with your reservation is free transportation from Orlando International Airport via the Magical Express. You can also enjoy the Extra Magic Hours in the parks, the complimentary transportation to the parks by boat and bus and FastPast+. You can even have groceries delivered to your campsite for those post-park campground meals.

3. Check out Walt Disney World Value Resorts

There are five Value Resorts at Walt Disney World—Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort, Disney’s All-Star Music Resort, Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort and Disney’s Pop Century Resort—and rooms at these properties start at just $110 per night. They have on-site dining and awesome pools, especially Art of Animation, and pool hopping is allowed between the All-Star resorts. And like the Campsite benefits mentioned above, with your reservation you score complimentary Magical Express transportation from the airport, transportation to all parks, FastPast+ scheduling and Extra Magic Hours.

4. Consider the DoubleTree Suites at Disney Springs

If you need a suite, the DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Orlando at Disney Springs start at just $109 per night. This all-suite resort has 1- or 2-bedroom suites for your larger family or group. You’ll also get a complimentary DoubleTree shuttle to the parks and can walk to all the dining, entertainment, and attractions at Disney Springs. This hotel boasts the Extra Magic Hours and FastPast+ benefits, too.

5. Save with the Holiday Inn Orlando Disney Springs Package

If you are driving to Walt Disney World and have kids 11 and under, the Breakfast and Parking Package at the Holiday Inn Orlando Disney Springs is for you! You’ll receive free parking for your vehicle at the hotel lot, and up to four kids ages 11 and under eat free any time of the day in any Holiday Inn on-site restaurant. There are also free shuttles from the hotel to the parks running every 30 minutes.

6. Snag the Orlando Starwood Hotels Teacher Discounts

Educators can snag a discounted teacher rate at select Starwood properties in Orlando. Stay at select Sheraton, Four Points by Sheraton, Sheraton Suites, Westin and more hotels participating in the Starwood teacher discount program. Contact the individual hotels to see what amusement park transportation and sightseeing perks are provided.

7. Plan your trip during a value season

Sadly, the crowds and Walt Disney World park ticket and resort hotel prices surge during the seasons when we teachers have time off: school holidays. But try to cross-check your calendar for days off that occur during either a ticket or a hotel value season. You can check out the days that park tickets are the best value on this ticket calendar and if you can plan your park visit days during value or regular price days, you will save up to $20 per park ticket. The Disney resort hotel Value Season is select dates in January and early February (all resorts), mid July through September (Deluxe resorts) and August and early September (Value & Moderate resorts).

Posted by Jessica McFadden

Jessica McFadden is a writer, blogger and parent living in the Washington, DC suburbs. A daughter of a teacher and a member of a family of teachers, she is happily at home interviewing teachers, principals and education specialists.